Device for cutting potatoes



(No Model.)

R. A. TOLER. DEVICE PoR CUTTING PoTAToEs.

Patented Jan.' 14, 1890.

rTn STATES ROBERT A.

TOLER, OF LADOGA, IOVA.

DEVICE FOR CUTTING POTATOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 419,231, dated January 14, 1890.

Application filed July 24, 1889. Serial No. 318,511.

(No model.)

To all when?, may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. TOLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ladoga, in the county of Taylor and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Device for Cutting Potatoes, of which the following is a specification. Y

This invention has relation to a device for cutting' potatoes for seeding purposes, and though especially designed for this purpose may be used with advantage in cutting roots, the?, for stock-fodder.

Among' the objects in view are to provide a device for the above purpose, which is ea pable of operating' upon one or more potatoes or a series of roots at the same time, and which will cut simultaneously a quantity of uniformly-sized sections, and which may be adj usted for different purposes and for oper ating upon different-sized potatoes.

With these general objects in view the invention consists in a feed-table adapted to be mounted over a barrel or other receptacle and provided with a series of adjustable knives, the cutting-edges of which are flush with the upper edge of the table, and in pivoting a lever to one side of the table and adapted to press the potatoes against the knives and force the same between the knives.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of the cutter constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being in operative position over a barrel. Fig. 2 is a plan with the retainingplate removed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the iigures.

In practicing my invention I prefer to construct the table l of cast-iron, though, if desired, I may form the same of wood. In the upper face of the table I provide au oblong' recess 2 and in the center of the same form a similarly-shaped b ut smaller opening 3, the recessthus forming at both sides of said opening opposite grooves or ways a. At each end of the opening and within the recess is formed a stop 5, the upper surface of which is flush with that of the table, and intermediate the stops and the edge of the table occur pockets G.

7 represents opposite U-shaped knife-car ryin g arms, the terminals of which restin the table, said lever opposite recesses and the interi'nediate portions in the pockets, and are connected to the table by means of set-screws 8, passed through the end walls of the pockets and terminating in the U-shaped arms, and thus serve to operate the same back and forth in the pockets. The branches of the U, as before stated, lie and ride in the opposite ways, and each pair is provided in this instance with a series of transverse knife-receiving slots 9, iu which are mounted vertically-disposed knives 10, extending transverse the opening in the table. By operati ng the set-screws it is apparent that the two U-shaped knife-carrying arms may be adjusted toward or from each other, and thus bring their knives closer to or farther from each other. The transverse knives are each provided with a central vertical transverse slot-11 iu its upper edge,and mounted in the saine and terminating in the stop-block is a longitudinally-disposed knife 12, correspondingly recessed at its lower edge, as at 13, the ends of the knife terminating in the stop-blocks.

1S represents opposite blocks secured within the opposite recesses and located between the ends of the opposite U-shaped arms. These blocks have their inner faces slotted, and in the same are mounted the ends of a xed knife 19.

Mounted over the table, and having a central opening 13, is a securing-plate 1i, the central opening of which registers with the opening in the table.

15 represents a hand-lever, the rear end of which is hinged, as at 16, to the side of the heilig' arranged in such posi tion as to fold upon the table and transverse the knives, and opposite said knives is projected laterally at each side of the lever forming a head 17, the lever terminating' at its free end with a hand-lever 18.

The device thus constructed is mounted over a barrel or other receptacle 20, (see Fig. 1,) and the potatoes or other vegetables are fed by hand upon the knives and under the lever, which is brought down by the other hand of the operator, and the potatoes thus divided into sections or tubes for planting purposes and drop through between the knives into the receptacle.

Having thus described my iuvention,wl1at I IOO claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

ing and a recess larger than and surrounding said opening, in combination with U-shaped arms the ter1nin ls of Which lie in the recess at each side of the opening, knives mounted an opening corresponding with thatin the table, substantially as specified.

l. In a cutter, a base provided with an open-v recess at opposite sides of 3. In a cutter, abase provided With an opening and with a rectangular recess surrounding the opening, fixed blocks located in the the opening, and a knife mounted in the blocks, in combination With opposite U-shaped arms mounted in the opposite ends of the recess and having their terminals or branches disposed at each side of the opening, knives mounted in the branches and extending across the opening, and means for adjusting the arms and their knives Ato- Ward and away from the iXed knife, substantially as speciiied.

ln testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHAs. THOMAS, VINNIE UNDERWooD. 

